The winemaker of two of our most popular wines from Ribera Del Duero joined us last week for a very special master class dinner for 16 lucky guests at highly acclaimed Pizarro restaurant. The dinner was simply sublime with a selection of tapas, roast lamb and then a selection of cheeses to finish off. It was the perfect venue to taste the wines of Bodegas Neo, a firm favourite of Robert Parker who often rates the Punta Essencia with 96 points or more and the wines of Bodegas Arrocal, one of the best value wines from our range.
Bodegas Arrocal, Ribera del Duero 2010 @ £9.55 per bottle
The 2010 Arrocal was produced from estate-grown fruit and aged for 8 months in French and American oak. A rich, inviting nose of cedar, cinnamon, espresso, liquorice, and blackberry. Ripe and round on the palate, it is incredibly morish and outstanding value.
Arrocal Seleccion 2007 @ £17.00 per bottle
The Arrocal Seleccion spent 15 months in French and American oak. The nose displays aromas of smoke, spice box, violets and blackberry with a smooth-textured, powerful finish.
The 2010 Arrocal was produced from estate-grown fruit and aged for 8 months in French and American oak. A rich, inviting nose of cedar, cinnamon, espresso, liquorice, and blackberry. Ripe and round on the palate, it is incredibly morish and outstanding value.
Arrocal Seleccion 2007 @ £17.00 per bottle
The Arrocal Seleccion spent 15 months in French and American oak. The nose displays aromas of smoke, spice box, violets and blackberry with a smooth-textured, powerful finish.
Arrocal Maximo 2006 @ £54.00 per bottle
The Maximo de Arrocal is 100% Tempranillo sourced from a 64-year-old vineyard with yields of only 0.5 tons per acre. It received “200% new oak”, spending 12 months in new French oak before racking into another set of new French oak for an additional 12 months. Huge concentration with complex aromas of leather, lavender, blackberry, and incense. The palate is rich and spicy with a hint of liquorice. It has plenty of tannin and the fruit to match. Excellent!
Neo Sentido 2010 @ £12.95 per bottle
The Neo Sentido is 100% Tempranillo aged in a mix of new and used French and American oak for 8 months before bottling without fining or filtration. fresh perfume of black cherry, and blackberry and coffee beans. The juicy palate is extremely approachable and a long finish to match.
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| Roast shoulder of lamb |
Neo 2009 @ £29.50 per bottle
Neo is sourced from 50- to 60-year-old Tempranillo vines and typically aged in French and American oak for 15 months before bottling without fining or filtration. A beautifully perfumed nose of smoke, violets, blueberry, and blackberry. The palate is succulent with a minerally complexity which lasts and lasts.
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| Jose Pizarro and Isaac |
Neo Punta Esencia 2009 @ £45.00 per bottle
Neo Punta Esencia is made only in the better years. It is sourced from a single, 80-year-old vineyard producing tiny yields. It receives the “200% new oak” treatment spending 12 months in 100% new French oak before racking into a different set of new barrels for 6 months. Powerful with great elegance and finesse, the nose reveals an aromatic array of tobacco, coffee beans, liquorice, black cherry, and blackberries. The palate reveals dense, concentrated dark fruit with beautifully well integrated oak.
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| Jose's homemade chocolate truffles! |
Neo Punta Esencia 2005 @ £50.00 per bottle
It is no surprise that the 2005 Neo Punta Esencia received 96 points from Robert Parker. It is a hugely powerful wine with great complexity. The nose is layered with notes of toasty new oak, truffle, violets, liquorice, and blackberry. On the palate it is full-bodied, weighty, and powerful leading to a rich, full-flavoured and minerally finish.
Many thanks to Jose Pizarro and Isaac Fernández Montaña for an immensely successful evening.
Written by Alex Robertson
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